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Build an exciting and fulfilling career in biochemistry with globally marketable BSc and MSc courses in biochemistry from world-class universities.
Biological chemistry is the study of chemical processes within and relating to living organisms. It is basically the application of chemistry principles to the study of biological processes at the cellular & molecular level. As said by Nobel prize winner and Israeli biologist Aaron Ciechanover; Biochemistry is the science of life. All our life processes walking, talking, moving, feeding are essentially chemical reactions. So biochemistry is actually the chemistry of life, and it is supremely interesting.
- Learn the three major subfields of biochemistry i.e structural biology, enzymology, and metabolism while learning in-depth details about carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
- Improve on your elementary skills like analytical, communication and presentation, interpersonal, observation skills, research, and data analysis along with the mathematical, medical, scientific, query, and basic software skills.
- Gain experiential learning by studying and working with the best biochemist and molecular biology professors from various universities, enabling yourself with global placement opportunities.
- Develop the pivotal technical competency and practical skills required to become a scientist in areas that include healthcare, industry, and research
Top Marketable Careers for Biochemistry Course Graduates
Being a sub-discipline of both biology and chemistry, biochemistry opens the gates to a plethora of career paths. Sectors like food, agriculture, education, and health require biochemists but the scope of work for any graduate with a BSc in biochemistry or an MSc in biochemistry depends on their individual skill development in a particular specialisation and the course and university they graduated from. Typical employers of biochemistry graduates include the environment agency, government departments, private firms, and pharmaceutical companies. Here are a few career paths:
Biochemist
Biochemist is a broad term for a BSc, MSc, and Ph.D. degree holder in biochemistry. They carry out research, conduct, plan and perform experiments, and record information to better our understanding of biological processes of organisms and humans while alive and after death and even in-between. They may also act as a supervisor of a team of researchers and help them design facilities or work with the equipment, and use software applications to compile and analyse information.
As a researcher, a biochemist may work on health issues like HIV, cancer, infections, and genetic disorders, to provide a solution or a prolonging remedy. They are often hired by pharmaceutical companies to develop new drugs and treatments, all while complying with safety and quality controls. A bachelor's degree like a BSc in biochemistry can help you land entry-level roles like a lab assistant or lab associate, for independent research, biochemistry enthusiasts continue learning up to a terminal degree and gain experience.
Analytical Chemist
Analytical chemists play a huge role in our day-to-day lives as they work in all kinds of industries and various fields of chemistry, applying their knowledge about chemicals, the mathematics it contains along with computational processes, and instrumentation. They investigate the chemical composition of substances, to identify and analyse each substance and how it behaves in different settings or environments. From process development to setting error limits during the quantitative and qualitative analysis, the role of an analytical chemist is crucial.
The said analysis includes sampling, defining, isolating, concentrating, and preserving samples of products from various industries like drugs and food to determine their quality and interpreting the data with appropriate context. With the growing technology, employers find analytical chemists who are masters of sophisticated designs and equipment used to get things done faster and efficiently. The career path profile is very demanding and one of the best ways to kickstart your biochemist career.
Pharmacologist
A Pharmacologist investigates the effects and working of medicines and drugs on our biological system. Before a medicine reaches a pharmacy store, it is the duty of a Pharmacologist to run experiments and tests of the medicine and redeem it fit for use by the public. There are two subfields in the job profile, pharmacodynamics where you study the effect of drugs on the cellular level or what drugs do to the body, and pharmacokinetics, where you analyse the absorption and excretion of drugs on the molecular level or what the body does to the drug.
As a pharmacologist, you get to study and help the development of new and better medicines. Unlike pharmacists, you won’t interact with the patients but would be working in specialised areas like neuropharmacology, chemotherapy, and veterinary pharmacology in pharmaceutical companies to medical research for government and public sector organisations and universities. A BSc in biochemistry or an equivalent degree with a major in Pharmacology can easily pave a path in this career.
Food Scientist
Food scientists work in the agriculture sector, studying, analysing, and developing methods to improve the productivity, cost-reducing manufacturing processes, or sustainability of crops and livestock. They also work on the improvement of food quality and packaging while ensuring food products entering the supply chain comply with safety standards is also part of the career path.
Food scientists can specialise in a subfield, such as soil, plants, or livestock. Administrative roles like recording and condensing research data, independent laboratory testing, and updating and maintaining MRP systems are included in the day-to-day task of a food scientist. A bachelor’s degree in biochemistry with a specialisation in food engineering or a master's degree in it can help you crack the door into the field. An important skill that is developed and needed is the ability to use internal and external sources to make technical scientific advances.
Forensic Scientist
Forensics is one of the best careers in law enforcement. The day to day responsibility of a Forensic Scientist is to collect possible evidence from crime scenes and use analytical, computational, and scientific techniques to examine it and prepare legal statements that summarise the results. The profession includes visiting crime scenes, coming back to laboratories to investigate and make some sense out of the samples you collected like hairs and blood along with non-biological substances like textile fibres, paint, glass, explosives, and drugs. They also need to be adaptable to new technological advancements.
Forensic Scientists are in high demand and they play a very crucial role in law, by using their skills and technology which are one of the most important parts of solving crimes. Due to a critical role, the average salary of Forensic scientists is also higher than other career paths. Typical employers include private investigation agencies, defence, law enforcement agencies like police, government sector jobs. A typical academic path for a Forensic scientist is a bachelor of science in biochemistry and a master’s degree focusing on forensics.
Toxicologist
Toxicologists work to enhance & develop methodologies that determine the potential risk levels and biological effects of substances like drugs, chemicals, agents, radiation, and other substances that humans interact with. They are also known for determining the dosage of a drug or a treatment a person should take and potential side effects. They investigate toxic materials and how they can affect the environment and living organisms.
The typical day to day activities includes planning, designing, and executing controlled experiments and trials to manage laboratories, and writing reports, reviews, and papers. A Subfield of toxicology includes investigating the presence and distribution of xenobiotics(chemical substances that shouldn’t be there inside the body) as part of an autopsy. Toxicologists are required to be both theoretically and practically skilled, hired by employers like forensic laboratories working for the law, pharmaceuticals, and various chemical companies.
Miscellaneous
Career paths for a biochemistry graduate don’t end there. Getting a master's in biomedical engineering can land you multiple career paths as a biomedical engineer(developing new devices and equipment for enhancement of healthcare). Other job profiles include medical lab technologist, academic roles like a high school teacher or a university biochemistry professor, and a science journalist. Trending technologies like biotechnology and nanotechnology are attracting a lot of biochemists and have a great number of career opportunities for their skill set as well.
There are innumerable courses and many universities across the world which are training biochemists who can and will change the future. Craydel and our team of expert admission counsellors work with these universities and provide equal opportunity to students and professionals around the world to study abroad or in their country and gain quality education in biochemistry. If you can’t choose which course and university to go with, whether to learn from an online biochemistry degree or join in-person classes or if you are confused with which among the surplus amount of career paths in biochemistry to kickstart your career in, we are here to help. Our career match assessment test allows students to discover their hidden potential which can help them excel in a career.
Biomedical Scientist
A biomedical scientist carries out a range of laboratory experiments and scientific tests on samples of body fluids and body tissue to help analyse and develop therapeutic solutions, strategies, and better diagnostic tools for diseases. Along with molecular and biochemical techniques, they use concepts like clinical chemistry, electrophysiology techniques, genetic engineering, and modification along with working on technologies like MRI, PET, X-ray, DNA sequencer, etc. With the growth in computer technology, biomedical scientists also target and leverage bioinformatics and computational biology in their investigations.
The scope of work of a biomedical scientist varies with the disease or particular area they are working on, which includes the likes of infection sciences, blood sciences, genetics, and molecular pathology. Administrative tasks like managing and ordering stocks of samples and equipment, maintaining accurate records, and writing medical reports are also part of the profession. With a Ph.D. in biochemistry or biomedical science and some experience, you can easily get a lucrative career in employment sections like clinical pathology and blood & transplant labs along with universities and pharmaceutical manufacturers. Clinical Research (Biochemistry) is a similar profession that focuses only on chemicals (both natural and unnatural) in blood, urine, and other body fluids.
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Check out the list of most popular questions around Biochemistry programs
What subjects are required to pursue Biochemistry?
Biology and chemistry are the core subjects needed. English and mathematics at high school level will also be an entry subject to consider.
A related bachelors degree in the life sciences field, medicine or physical sciences will be considered for a master’s admissions criteria.
How many years do you study a Biochemistry degree?
A bachelors degree will take at least 3 – 5 years on average of which some programs are also sandwiched with placement. For a postgraduate program in the area, the duration will range from 12 – 36 months on average.